Navajo Joe Lee Gray Vintage Sterling Silver Blue Gem Nevada Turquoise Bracelet

OLD DEPOSIT BLUE GEM TURQUOISE VINTAGE NATIVE AMERICAN NAVAJO STERLING SILVER cluster BRACELET Vintage (circa 1970s) navajo Sterling Silver Cuff Bracelet set with Clusters of Natural blue gem nevada turquoise This is a superlative vintage Navajo cluster silver bracelet. This wonderful bracelet contains 22 vibrant blue turquoise stones that appear to be from the impressive rare Blue Gem turquoise mine. Surrounding the stones are amazing silver ropes.

This bracelet contains a fascinating triple silver shank cuff that graduates in width towards the center. The old natural patina on this bracelet is just amazing.

The center stone measures around 1"? X 1"inch The width of the bracelet measures around 1¾ Sterling silver. The inside end to end measures around 5"? With an additional 1"½gap. Joe Lee Gray noted Navajo artisan was born in 1938 and lives in Church Rock, New Mexico.

He began producing jewelry around 1970. His works have been published and although he is no longer producing his unique designs are sought be collectors. The Blue Gem Mine site is near Battle Mountain in Lander County, Nevada. Originally opened in 1934 as the Battle Mountain mine, the Blue Gem Mine has produced a huge variety of Turquoise, from dark greens to dark blues and everything in between. The Blue Gem Mine is known to be a particularly deep deposit of turquoise, with some mine shafts descending 800 feet below the surface.

The turquoise found in the Blue Gem mine is some of the highest quality turquoise found in Nevada. Due to its depth in the ground, Blue Gem turquoise is an extremely hard, gem-grade turquoise stone (hence the name). An unusually high percentage of Blue Gem Turquoise is higher grade, hard stones that do not require stabilization. Artists love working with Blue Gem because of its hardness, deep colors, and ability to hold a beautiful polish.

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